Note: The notes for the war are in the Wikispace, "Steps to World War II 1936-45". That Power Point has a lot of detailed maps and information about the war.
This was the largest war ever fought in human history. The lives lost in it are estimated to be as high as 54 million. The majority of those in Russia and China. The majority of those lives were non-combatants, or civilian. World War II was the epitome of "total war": civilian populations suffered bombing campaigns meant to terrorize their governments into surrender. The war also ushered in a new era of warfare: the atomic weapon. More importantly, it established the USA and the Soviet Union as the world's super-powers, and thus marked the beginning of the Cold War.
For these reasons alone it is imperative that it be studied and understood. Yet, there is another equally if not, more important reason for our having to study this war. The Nazis committed one of the worst acts of genocide in human history. By all means this was not the first, and sadly, it has not been the last. But unquestionably it was the largest, most organized, and most methodical example of genocide in human history. Thus it is terribly important that students of history understand what it takes for a nation, a people and an individual to participate in this act.
Before we begin, pleas read the pages of your text book outlined in the homework assignment below.
War Clouds Engulf Europe:
Note: The notes for the war are in the Wikispace, "Steps to World War II 1936-45". That Power Point has a lot of detailed maps and information about the war.
This was the largest war ever fought in human history. The lives lost in it are estimated to be as high as 54 million. The majority of those in Russia and China. The majority of those lives were non-combatants, or civilian. World War II was the epitome of "total war": civilian populations suffered bombing campaigns meant to terrorize their governments into surrender. The war also ushered in a new era of warfare: the atomic weapon. More importantly, it established the USA and the Soviet Union as the world's super-powers, and thus marked the beginning of the Cold War.
For these reasons alone it is imperative that it be studied and understood. Yet, there is another equally if not, more important reason for our having to study this war. The Nazis committed one of the worst acts of genocide in human history. By all means this was not the first, and sadly, it has not been the last. But unquestionably it was the largest, most organized, and most methodical example of genocide in human history. Thus it is terribly important that students of history understand what it takes for a nation, a people and an individual to participate in this act.
Before we begin, pleas read the pages of your text book outlined in the homework assignment below.
War Clouds Engulf Europe:
Using the notes from 1936-45 and your text book. Use the following page as a guide to complete the maps given to you in class.
Assignment: